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Do Non- HBCUs have Valedictorians?
The Construction of Language
I was wondering today….
I’ve never heard white gay men referred to as being “downlow or DL”. I’ve only ever heard it used in the context of Black gay males. More specifically those who continue to sleep with and date women, while secretly dating and sleeping with men. White men are oftentimes referred to as being in the closet.
Now I’m not an expert on gay issues…
But its interesting to look at how the language has been fashioned around black male gayness. Homosexuality is already seen as a large threat to black masculinity (in a culture where masculinity is highly valued). The use of the term downlow has such baggage around it. So much weight. It feels so negative. And dark. Whereas a white gay male who is simply in the closet just “hasn’t come out yet”. Its just furthers the stigma of homosexuality within the black community.
I could be wrong…but that’s just an observation I have.
